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->''"That was a very abstract, almost avant-garde episode with Q and what he was trying to prove with the ''Enterprise'', telling Picard to be aware because [[OutsideContextProblem there are some bad-asses out there that you're not prepared for no matter what you think.]] This is just a lesson to you to keep your eyes and ears open because there are things out there that you don't understand, and here's an example."''-->-- Director '''Rob Bowman''' on ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', "Q Who"

In order to [[CerebusSyndrome add more drama to a series which has been, up until that moment, lighthearted and comedic in nature,]] a villain (or antagonist of some sort) is introduced and is portrayed as a genuine threat, in contrast to the [[HarmlessVillain bumbling and comedic villains]] the heroes have faced before.

This villain's arrival is usually heralded by a sudden downturn in humor (although if the villain in question is [[LaughablyEvil amusing in their own right]], expect it to turn into BlackComedy), to show the audience this guy means business. In other words, a catalyst for a drastic change in mood toward the dark and dramatic.There are examples of characters who take the story to darker territory without being villainous in the slightest, but this trope is reserved for evil creatures.

In shows that are generally LighterAndSofter, said villain may have [[LaughablyEvil some light-hearted or comical traits]], but still gives a much higher sense of dread and genuine threat to the heroes than previous adversaries. Some cases of the trope may be harder to define by comparison in a particularly ineffective RoguesGallery, though a clear cut example at the very least can actually place the protagonist in real danger compared with the HarmlessVillain that [[PokeThePoodle poked his poodle]] in a previous arc. A typical symptom of CerebusSyndrome.

A Knight of Cerebus is very likely to be an [[ProfessionalKiller assassin]] [[LaserGuidedTykebomb trained for killing]], or even a blatant HeroKiller who posed actual threat, but also runs the risk of becoming a VillainSue. They also tend to be the trigger of TheWorfEffect against the hero. Arguably a subtrope of ThresholdGuardians. See also DeadSerious, NotSoHarmlessVillain. The show may ShooOutTheClowns first. Often, this results in a case of VileVillainSaccharineShow. When this kicks off CerebusSyndrome, his or her arrival is a GutPunch. Sometimes, this type of character, if bad enough, can be a CompleteMonster if they have no redeeming traits and do terrible things by the standards of history in an initially more lighthearted series.

[[folder:Radio]]* ''Radio/AdventuresInOdyssey'' is largely a realistic show about realistic small-town problems, frequently more comedy than drama. It had a few forays into serious territory early on, whether it was an adaptation of a Bible story or a robbery... but when Dr. Blackgaard showed up, things ''changed''.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theater]]* ''Theatre/{{Camelot}}'' is extremely lighthearted up until Mordred arrives, and then starts building toward a genuine tragedy. This could easily have caused MoodWhiplash, but it's handled extremely well.* Also in ''Theatre/IntoTheWoods'' when the female giant shows up in act II, lets just say things go down hill from there.* Similar to the above, the entrance of Bill Sykes near the beginning of Act II of ''Theatre/Oliver!'' means the story gets ''much'' darker from that point on.* Don John from ''Theatre/MuchAdoAboutNothing'' is definitely a VileVillainSaccharineShow and his EvilPlan causes CerebusSyndrome to kick in.* ''Theatre/GreatBritain'' is initially something of a BlackComedy romp about the poor ethics of the British tabloid press, with Paige Britain using her sex appeal and lack of morals to get further ahead. However, two characters manage to cause CerebusSyndrome to kick in during the second half:** The model Stella Stone is at first something of a joke, appearing to be a BrainlessBeauty that gets a boob job to sell more photos and get better work on Page 7 of the Free Press. However, come the second act her character arc turns into a depressingly real look into anorexia. [[spoiler:Her condition eventually worsens to the point that she cannot recover, one of her family members (it's not revealed who) leaks this to the press, and eventually Paige heartlessly buys the exclusive rights to her death story for £100,000]].** Kieron Mills, a man suspected by some members of the public of either killing his daughters or selling them, is something of a plot device for the first act, with him being used as a joke about the tabloid press going berserk about paedophilia. His being arrested is also a case of BlackComedy due to the absurd headline that he is given. However, the scene where he and Paige talk in the mental institution is ''not'' PlayedForLaughs, where Paige's questioning makes him go berserk. It later turns out that [[spoiler:Free Press were completely wrong about him, and that the bodies of his daughters were found far away from where he was suspected to have done things. Of course, by the time they find this out, it is far too late and some fellow inmates have stabbed him to death in a misguided case of EvenEvilHasStandards]]. This kicks off the climax and causes the humour to more or less disappear entirely. [[/folder]]

[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]* Wrestling/NewWorldOrder. They debuted in one of wrestling's most cartoony eras and proceeded to utterly annihilate every face who stood in their way. They were led by Wrestling/HulkHogan, formerly an InvincibleHero, now a cruel and vindictive heel who loved to play the numbers game. Hell, they were so dark that Sting went through a personality 180 from a cheery surfer to a brooding Crow-type just so he could effectively combat them!* Wrestling/TheUndertaker's Wrestling/MinistryOfDarkness. They crucified and hung their enemies, kidnapped women, brainwashed midcarders, made blood pacts in the middle of the ring... only infighting and The Undertaker getting injured put an end to them.* Wrestling/TheNexus made their debut by savagely beating down everyone around the ring- and we mean ''everyone''. The faces, the heels, the trainers, the announcers, the commentators... they even destroyed the ring! Wrestling/RAW ended with the seven of them standing tall, everything around them utterly annihilated. [[FromBadToWorse And it got worse from there.]]* Wrestling/TheWyattFamily. With the WWE's current LighterAndSofter atmosphere, it's really jarring to see a gimmick like this one, especially considering it may be one of the most disturbing and genuinely unnerving characters in the history of the company.--> "Hey, wanna see something... really scary?"* A well-booked WrestlingMonster usually qualifies, since they will steamroll face after face until someone puts them down. Well-known examples include Wrestling/{{Kane}}, Wrestling/BrockLesnar, Wrestling/MarkHenry since his 2011 FaceHeelTurn, and even Wrestling/BethPhoenix.* Wrestling/TheShield. While they've started to fall apart in 2014, they debuted as a brutal SWAT Team-like trio who would steamroll anyone with flawless teamwork and then Triple Powerbomb them through a table.* Wrestling/RandyOrton. It's easy to forget that, prior to the summer of 2007 when he really began to establish himself as a main-event heel, WWE had for months and months been a carnival of kooky gimmicks: evil cheerleaders, [[Wrestling/{{Hornswoggle}} a leprechaun]], a "[[Wrestling/{{Boogeyman}} monster]]" who ate worms, Wrestling/BookerT thinking he was a medieval king, Mr. [=McMahon=] getting his head shaved...Even the [[{{Kayfabe}} (kayfabe)]] destruction of [=McMahon=]'s limo and Wrestling/ChrisBenoit's (real-life) death earlier that summer couldn't quite put a damper on the silliness. Then Orton loses his title bout against Wrestling/JohnCena at ''[=SummerSlam=]'', pouts about it...and, after Jonathan Coachman tells him that he hasn't "proven himself" yet, [[MoralEventHorizon kicks Cena's father in the head]] just to ''guarantee'' that he'll get a rematch.* Wrestling/SethRollins has gotten progressively unhinged, then came the last RAW of 2014. He holds Wrestling/{{Edge}} hostage and actually threatens to kill or at least paralyze him via NeckSnap. When John Cena tries to save him, Seth orders him to stop and laughs that if Edge is unable to hold his daughter for the rest of his life due to paralysis, it is all on Cena's head. Cena gives in to all of Seth's demands, only for him to calmly say, "Damn, you gotta know me better than that, John. I'm gonna kill him anyway." Fortunately, Cena was able to stop him from stomping on Edge's neck, but still.* Wrestling/KevinSteen was already a pretty dark character in his "wrestling's worst nightmare" persona, but then he came to NXT under the name Kevin Owens. He has since established himself as the [[TheSociopath darkest]], [[AxCrazy cruelest]], [[ManipulativeBastard most heartless]] heel in NXT's young history- injuring anyone who he doesn't like, damn near killing his former best friend Wrestling/SamiZayn, and generally asserting himself as someone who does not give a damn about who or what he breaks on his way to the top. Case in point, he vowed to beat Wrestling/JohnCena at ''Elimination Chamber 2015'' and he kept his promise, not only throwing everything he got, but also got a '''CLEAN''' win over Cena, which very few in the WWE have managed to do.* Wrestling/LuchaUnderground has three Knights of Cerebus** First there is Pentagon Jr. a brutal luchador who became this when he started attacking and breaking the arms of those on the roster, snapping them like twigs and dedicating each one to his [[EvilMentor Master]]. Showing zero interest in capturing titles as the only thing that mattered was sacrificing limbs to his Master. He even proved that gender was no issue to him when he not only attempted to [[WouldHitAGirl break the arms]] of the ring announcer but Sexy Star as well.** Second is Mil Muertes, a giant of a man who flat out demolishes those he faces. Unlike others on the roster, [[NoNonsenseNemesis he]] does not waste any time or give his opponents even though he outclasses them opportunities to fight against him.** Last but not least is Matanza, who is the brother of The owner of Lucha Underground, Dario Cueto. Kept locked in a cell in the basement in The Temple, its been stated that he was responsible for the deaths of Black Lotus's parents and also her village. He's kept locked up and we never get a scene with him but the only sound you hear is his snarling and breathing from within his cell.*** Matanza finally proved himself to be this when Dario, furious after a henchmen of his had failed, forced them against the bars of Matanza's cell and Matanaza destroyed him with blood splattering all over the room.* Jimmy Havoc became this for Wrestling/{{Progress Wrestling}} when he turned heel, before that most of the heels were just assholes, Havoc was Ax-Crazy, some of the things he did was threaten to set Mark Andrews on fire for a title match and he tried to cut Will Ospreay's ear off to make a point to the companies management. When he was threatening to set Mark Andrews on fire for a title match someone from the crowd shouted out "you're a psychopath".* Wrestling/CHIKARA is pretty well known in the wrestling world for being a mostly lighthearted, family-friendly and often comedic wrestling promotion, filled with goofy colourful gimmicks, slapstick comedy routines during matches, and storylines that would not seem out of place in a superhero comic. And then in 2014 along came The Flood, a massive stable of almost every single major villain and rudo-stable the company had ever seen. And leading them was Deucalion, a massive body-armour-clad black-eyed super-soldier in a gas mask who looked more than a little bit like Bane from the Batman comics, with one goal: To destroy CHIKARA and all that it stands for, from the inside out. What resulted was a massive year-long war between The Flood and the technico-wrestlers. Now CHIKARA had seen it fair share of serious villains, such as the BDK and the GEKIDO stables, but there was one major difference: Deucalion was not afraid to kill (in kayfabe, anyway) any wrestler that got in his way, regardless of what side of the war they were on. And he had been responsible for the 'deaths' of six wrestlers before he finally met his demise at the hands of Icarus. To date he is still the darkest and most dangerous wrestler that CHIKARA has ever seen.

[[/folder]]

[[folder:TabletopGames]]* TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} effectively has [[SerialEscalation two]] in its history.** The first to appear were the four Chaos Gods. Before they showed up, humanity was more or less kicking ass and taking names. Then the Chaos Gods make their presence known by corrupting [[TheHero Horus]], turning half of humanity to their side, nearly wiping out all of Terra, having their new servant Horus cripple [[BigGood The Emperor]] and indirectly causing the imperium of man to become the CrapsackWorld it is today. However, this was only in the Horus Heresy, and it only really applied to humanity. After their first defeat, humanity began gaining ground against the forces of Chaos until they [[VillainThreatDecay downgraded]] to TheUsualAdversaries. Something that The Eldar ALREADY saw them as.** Then came the [[OutsideContextProblem Tyranids]]. In their very first attack, they crippled the most well respected Space Marines in the galaxy. In their second, it took both the Eldar AND Humanity working together just to gain a PyrrhicVictory over them. And their third assault STILL hasn't been stopped, [[GodzillaThreshold despite the sacrifice of billions upon billions of humans]]. Every time a Hive Fleet has appeared, the races of the galaxy have had to cross the GodzillaThreshold in order to stop it. EVERY Hive Fleet is treated as an apocalyptic event for the galaxy and these are just the ''[[UpToEleven scouting fleets]]'', the main force isn't even here yet. While every other Race has spent millenia fighting over one galaxy, the Tyranids are implied to have consumed MULTIPLE. This is just their next meal.*** What makes it worse? The above [[KnightOfCerebus Knights of Cerebus]] are [[HorrifyingTheHorror SCARED]] of the Tyranids. Because they have the power to completely block out The Warp. And the Tyranids are implied to be ''running away'' from something [[AlwaysABiggerFish EVEN WORSE.]][[/folder]]

[[folder:Toys]]* [[BigBad Makuta]] from ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'' started out [[EvilOverlord menacing enough]], but his constant defeats and failures gradually robbed him of his credibility. After the original head of the Story Team left, the character of Makuta underwent a serious retcon, which resulted in him turning into a [[TheChessmaster calculating]] mastermind who had [[XanatosGambit planned his victory]] from the start, turned out to be the GreaterScopeVillain behind a lot of former villains, and by the end of the story arc, ended up ''[[TheBadGuyWins winning]]''.[[/folder]]